Headlines
- During her first day in BiH, Carla del Ponte had meetings with international officials
- Wolfgang Petritsch said that the cooperation between the Hague Tribunal and the RS had improved
- BiH Foreign Minister, Jadranko Prlic, said that BiH is still far away from European integration, after his meeting with the recently appointed EU Foreign Commissiner
- The second round of the presidential elections in Macedonia scheduled in two weeks time – unofficially, Tito Petkovski got the biggest number of votes
- Oslo – the beginning of the Middle East Summit
- November 1st – the Day of the Dead
Sarajevo
Recently appointed Main Prosecutor of the Hague Tribunal, Carla del Ponte, arrived in BiH after her visits to Macedonia and Kosovo. The first day of her visit, the Prosecutor spent meeting international officials and gathering information. The High Representative in BiH, Wolfgang Petritsch, said there would be no reconciliation without bringing up to justice those indicted for war crimes. The High Representative added that the cooperation of the RS authorities with the Hague Tribunal had improved. Carla del Ponte also met with the SFOR Commander in BiH and the Head of the UN Mission, OBN reporter, Zeljka Lekic, confirmed.
Hearing of Damir Dosen, in front of the Hague Tribunal was postponed because he injured himself playing volleyball in the Hague detention centre during the weekend. Dosen had been indicted for killing of hundreds of Bosniaks and Croats in the Serb concentration camp Keraterm in 1992 and arrested last week.
The High Representative of the International Community in BiH, Wolfgang Petritsch, made a decision in order to protect people in BiH threatened with deportation, especially those who were victims of white slavery trade. The decision had been reached because the BiH Parliament did not adopt laws on immigration and asylum. The current type of deportation has been breaching the European conventions on human rights. The decision will be valid until the BiH Parliament adopts the law.
This was followed by a report on the arrival of the new Commissioner of the European Union in two day visit to BiH. The Commissioner talked to the BiH Foreign Minister who said that BiH was still far away from European integration. The report on this was produced by OBN reporter, Bakir Hadziomerovic.
Washington
Representatives of the Serbian Association for Changes started four day talks in Washington with USA politicians about a possibility for democratisation of Serbia. The leader of the Kosovo Serbs, Momcilo Trajkovic, was wounded last night in Pristina. The ex US Envoy for solving the Kosovo crisis, and the current US President Special Advisor, Christopher Hill, talked about the future of Kosovo for OBN. Christopher Hill said that the violence in Kosovo had to end.
Macedonia
A report on the presidential elections in Macedonia followed. Macedonian voters had a selection of six candidates. According to the last, unofficial information, Tito Petkovski, representative of the Social-democrat Party got the biggest number of votes, OBN reporter from Skoplje, Safet Bisevac, confirmed. The second round of the elections is scheduled in two weeks.
World
Leaders of Israel and Palestine met with the USA President in Oslo upon the invitation of the Norwegian President. The aim of the meeting was to finalise agreement on the Middle East crisis. More than nine hundred journalists from all over the world came to Norway in order to cover the event. A report from Oslo was produced for OBN by Dzevad Tasic.
This was followed by a report on the three consecutive air strikes by Russian planes on the Chechen capital, Grozny, and another, nearby town. Reports on the presidential elections in Ukraine, consequences of the catastrophic cyclone in India and investigation of the Boeing 767plane accident. The officials announced that it was not a terrorist attack. The report was produced by OBN journalist, Gordana Frimel.
Tuzla
The trial of the ex Tuzla Canton Prime Minister, Hazim Vikalo, will start in Tuzla tomorrow. This case had reflections in the Sarajevo Canton as well because of the allegations of corruption. Four top Tuzla Canton officials were indicted for the misuse of their official authorisations. The report was produced by OBN reporter from the town, Muhamed Berbic.
Zivinice
The Prosecution Office of the Zivinice Municipality received calls from the citizens who suspect that construction sites were illegally given to the Municipality heads. The Interior Ministry of the canton started up the investigation. The report on this was produced by OBN reporter, Amarildo Gutic.
Brcko
A report on the reconstruction of the factory and improvement of the production technology of the meat factory “Bimeks” from Brcko was produced by OBN reporter form the town, Slobodanka Radojkovic. The Director of the factory invested his own funds in the reconstruction. It is expected that 570 people will get a job in the factory.
Banja Luka
A forum of political parties has been organised by the US National Democratic Institute in Banja Luka. The participants discussed successes and failures of democratic development after the war, OBN reporter, Valentina Knezevic, confirmed.
This was followed by a report on the establishment of the first cross-entity bus lines between Banja Luka and Mostar, and Banja Luka and Tuzla. The prices of the ticket in one direction is 17 and 18 DEM, OBN reporter from Banja Luka, Darko Savic, confirmed.
The International Sport University officially started its work in Banja Luka today. International organisations in BiH supported the opening of the institution, OBN reporter from Banja Luka, Suzana Vukcevic, confirmed.
Kiseljak / Mostar
A piece on November 1st, the Day of Dead, celebrated by Catholics all over Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Sport
A piece on World Championship in rugby was followed by a report on Formula One.